Lastminute Hires CRM Leader from EMI

UK-based travel web site lastminute.com has hired Shai Eilon as its new Group Head of Customer Relationship Management (CRM), replacing Lopo Champalimaud who has become MD of its European lifestyle division.

The former head of CRM at EMI Music will report to lastminute's Chief Marketing Officer Simon Thompson, who joined the company earlier this year from Motorola.

Thompson said: 'We are delighted that Shai has joined lastminute.com. Through his experience at Amazon and EMI he brings a wealth of expertise and skill that will enable us to take our CRM capabilities to the next level.'

Eilon's role at EMI involved developing and implementing an eCRM strategy across all music labels, while maximising the sales potential of the database by creating and managing eCRM programmes company-wide. Prior to this he was UK E-mail Marketing Manager at amazon.co.uk, and previously he worked at Ticketmaster where he was responsible for the company's offline and online direct marketing activities.

Commenting on his new role, Eilon said: 'Effective CRM is central to creating a loyal base of customers in any sector. However, it's even more important in the increasingly competitive world of online travel.'

www.lastminute.com is a travel web site for worldwide online reservations of hotels, package tours, adventure holidays, sightseeing, rental cars and special airfares.